Vehicle

2008 Lexus IS 250 4dr Sedan (2.5L 6cyl 6A)

Review

Despite the sporty exterior and a willing chassis, the car is not a sports sedan. It's let down by the whimpy engine, an unresponsive throttle and a transmission programmed by someone from the Prius team. But with the bumpy ride, it can't be a luxury car, either. The car delivers excellent gas mileage for a V6. It handles well, thanks to the firm suspension, summer tires and RWD. Steering is quick but numb. Interior uses top notch materials. Quality of assembly is very high, both inside and out. It's reliable but not completely trouble free. Expect to pay a premium for service at the dealer. But their technicians are no better than those at typical Honda or Toyota dealerships.

Best Features

Worst Features

Put more sport in it. The engine needs another 50 lb-ft of torque. Get someone who enjoys driving to reprogram the transmission and throttle. Provide a more aggressive "sport" mode. No memory seats or Bluetooth in a car stickered at $36K? Are you kidding? Redesign that messy center stack.